5: How to Search the Web - Find and Evaluate Web Sites

Determine if your instructor wants you to include Internet resources. Learn how to use search engines and subject directories to locate authoritative materials on the web. Books, periodicals and webliographies can also help to find appropriate sources on the Internet. Develop your search skills and practice often!

Evaluating The Web - Criteria for Evaluating a Webpage

Learn how to evaluate web sites by determining their authority, relevancy and currency:

UC Berkeley: Critical Evaluation Worksheet
Evaluate Web Pages (from Wolfgram Library at Widener University)
Evaluating Websites for an Academic Paper/Publication (from Kresge Library at Oakland University)
Critical Thinking/Disinformation Resources on the Web (from Humbolt State University Library)
Five Criteria for Evaluating Web Pages (Cornell University)

NOTE: Unlike scholarly print periodicals and books, where the information is subjected to a process of review, anyone can publish on the web. Many web sites are also designed for commercial purposes and, consequently, are designed to influence!

General Information about Searching the Internet

Learn more about searching the internet at the following websites:

Anatomy of a Web Address
Recommended Search Engines(UC Berkeley Library)
Choose the Best Search for Your Information Need
Finding Information on the Internet
Tutorial from the University of California's Library, Berkeley
How to Choose A Search Tool
Links to search engines, subject directories, internet tutorials and internet reference center. Site maintained by a former librarian at the University at Albany, SUNY.

Search the Web by Subject

The following web subject directories containing sites suitable for college and university students.
Some of these academic sites may contain a few links closed to those who are not students at that institution.

Academic Info
Subject directory of over 25000 hand picked educational resources for high school and college students as well as a directory of online degree programs and admissions test preparation resources (SAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT, GMAT, USMLE, TOEFL).
Google Scholar
Search across many disciplines and sources: peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, abstracts and articles, from academic publishers, professional societies, preprint repositories, universities and other scholarly organizations.
INFOMINE
Links to Internet resources relevant to university faculty and students.
ipl2
Searchable subject directory with a wide variety of internet resources created and maintained by librarians and library science students
Open Directory Project
Sites selected by a global network of volunteers are organized by broad topics.
SAGE
A database of electronic resources licensed for University of California at SanDiego as well as many freely available on the Internet. These resources have been selected by our library subject specialists as being valuable for research by students,
St. Ambrose University Library's Best Information on the Net
Internet resources selected by librarians at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa.
University of Delaware Research Guides
Arranged alphbetically by subject.
University of Tennessee Subject Guides
Alphbetical arrangement by subject.
WWW Virtual Library
Volunteers compile pages of key links for particular areas in which they are expert.

Search the Web by Keywords

Use keywords in "search engines" to search large collections of websites. Different search engines go to different collections of websites. For updates on search engine features see Best Search Tools Chart.

Here is a selection of recommended search engines:

ask.com
Searches for web sites, images, news, blogs, video, maps and directions.
Google
Large, popular search engine with many special features.
Hotbot
Searches, yahoo, msn and lygo.
yahoo.com
Categorized directory of websites and permits keyword searching.

Search the Web for Images

The following websites are great for finding images:

UC Berkeley Library Image and Sound Databases
Featured Digital Libraries
This is a Pinterest page created by American Libraries. It provides a complete collection of the Digital Libraries of the Week featured in AL Direct since 2007.
flickr
Many Flickr users have chosen to offer their work under a Creative Commons license, and you can browse or search through content under each type of license.
Google Images
Search engine of images on the web. Thumbnails of images are displayed based on the search keywords used.
Library of Congress: American Memory Collection: Photos and Prints

Books In The Oakton Library

The following books have information about finding and evaluating web sites:

The College Student's Research Companion: Finding, Evaluating, and Citing the Resources You Need to Succeed
Call Number: (DP) Z710 .Q37 2011; (RHC) RHC. Z710 .Q37 2011
The Extreme Searcher's Internet Handbook: A Guide for the Serious Searcher
Call Number: (DP) ZA4230 .H63 2010
An Introduction to Search Engines and Web Navigation
Call Number: (DP) ZA4230 .L48 2010
Searching & Researching on the Internet and the World Wide Web
Call Number: (DP) ZA4201 .A25 2010

Periodicals

Many general computer magazines have information about web search strategies, tips and techniques. Check the subject "Computers & Computer Science" in the periodicals subscription list or use Oakton's Online Indexes subject list to search for articles in magazines, journals and newspapers. Full text articles can be sent to your e-mail account.

Tip

You probably know a lot about the web already; there's definitely no lack of information about this subject! Look around you and notice the webliographies in your favorite magazines and web addresses mentioned on your favorite television and radio programs. Be sure to attend some of the Library's Got Research workshops this semester.